Hybrid connection system having separately sealed plug and receptacle chambers to provide a sealed connection

Abstract

A connector mating system that can enable the coupling and decoupling of electrical or optical power and communications channels, while in a harsh or submerged environment during which time the contacting interfaces of the power and communication channels remain fully protected from the destructive effects of the said environment. The system features a hybrid optic and/or electric connector that provides a means for electrical, optical and hybrid inter connection within an extremely hostile environment across a broad market range of applications with a novel end-seal concept in a scalable form factor with minimal actuation stresses and designed for high volume commodity manufacturing.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A connector set, comprising:
 a receptacle comprising receptacle contacts; and 
 a plug comprising plug contacts, the receptacle being adapted to receive the plug; 
 the receptacle and the plug each further comprising an end-face valve, wherein, during engagement of the receptacle and the plug, the end-face valve of the receptacle and the end-face valve of the plug are aligned and shaped causing the end-face valves to move together coincidentally in a matched axial displacement shaping concurrent with a natural twisting motion such that they move from a closed position, wherein the receptacle contacts and the plug contacts are in sealed isolation from each other, to an open position, wherein the receptacle contacts and the plug contacts are in sealed contact with each other. 
 
     
     
       2. The connector set of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle contacts and the plug contacts each comprise electrical contacts. 
     
     
       3. The connector set of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle contacts and the plug contacts each comprise optical contacts. 
     
     
       4. The connector set of  claim 1 , wherein the natural twisting motion occurs when a compressive force is applied between the receptacle and the plug. 
     
     
       5. The connector set of  claim 1 , wherein the axial displacement and the natural twisting motion cause one of the end-face valves to transition from a flat profile to a centrally extended profile and another of the end-face valves to transition from a flat profile to a centrally depressed profile. 
     
     
       6. The connecter set of  claim 5 , wherein the end-face valve of the receptacle transitions to the centrally depressed profile while the end-face valve of the plug transitions to the centrally extended profile. 
     
     
       7. The connector set of  claim 5 , wherein a face profile of the centrally extended profile matches a negative face profile of the centrally depressed profile. 
     
     
       8. The connector set of  claim 6 , wherein a face profile of the end-face valve of the plug matches a negative face profile of the end-face valve of the receptacle at each point in the transition from the respective flat profiles to the centrally extended and centrally depressed profiles. 
     
     
       9. The connector set of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle and the plug each further comprise a centrally mounted shaft, wherein the natural twisting motion imparts an associated natural twist motion to each of the centrally mounted shafts. 
     
     
       10. The connector set of  claim 9 , wherein the natural twist motion of the centrally mounted shafts is mirrored by a cam follower traveling in a radial cam path whereby the motion of the end-face valves is synchronized with the motion of the shafts that serves as a mechanical mechanism to engage and disengage the respective contacts as the end-face valves coincidentally move from their open position to their closed position. 
     
     
       11. The connector set of  claim 10 , wherein cam paths of the plug and of the receptacle work coincidentally during engagement of the receptacle and the plug to move a plug pin array between a locked attitude to an unlocked attitude where the plug pin array is free to travel between the engaged plug and receptacle and contact a corresponding receptacle pin array. 
     
     
       12. The connector set of  claim 9 , wherein the end-face valves are each actuated by mechanical contact between a valve face of each end-face valve and axial pushing of the contacted valve face. 
     
     
       13. The connector set of  claim 12 , wherein the axial pushing of the end-face valves cause axial pushing of the centrally mounted shafts. 
     
     
       14. The connector set of  claim 9 , wherein the centrally mounted shafts are internal to the respective receptacle and plug and sealed from fowling associated with the external environment before during and following engagement. 
     
     
       15. The connector set of  claim 1 , wherein the end-face valves provide a sealed environmental isolation end-seal barrier on the plug and on the receptacle prior to engagement of the plug and the receptacle. 
     
     
       16. The connector set of  claim 1 , wherein the end-face valves are respectively installed in a receptacle shell and a plug shell, wherein the shells provide a sealing interface between the receptacle and plug prior to, during, and following engagement of the receptacle and the plug contacts. 
     
     
       17. The connector set of  claim 1 , wherein the end-face valves each form contact chambers within their respective receptacle and plug and form an isolated and sealed passageway between the contact chambers of the receptacle and the plug. 
     
     
       18. The connector set of  claim 17 , wherein the contact chambers in the receptacle and the plug are contiguous following engagement of the receptacle and plug. 
     
     
       19. The connector set of  claim 17 , wherein the contact chambers in the receptacle and the plug are barrier isolated prior to engagement and following disengagement of the receptacle and the plug. 
     
     
       20. The connector set of  claim 17 , wherein the end-face valves provide sealed barrier isolation of the contact chamber in the receptacle and in the plug.